As reported by Maritimelawblog last month, fire broke out in the engine room of the Costa cruise ship ALLEGRA on February 27th while sailing in the Indian Ocean. The ALLEGRA, a former cargo carrier built in 1969, was towed to Seychelles where she currently remains. Micky Arison, CEO of Carnival Corp. (owner of Costa Cruises), reported to Wall Street analysts during a conference call that ALLEGRA will be sold or scrapped. Costa Cruises announced it was replacing the ALLEGRA with the 927-passenger VOYAGER for the upcoming on European cruising season.

The ALLEGRA fire was the second calamity to strike Costa Cruises this year following the CONCORDIA sinking of January 13th. Two major disasters combined with a significant drop in ticket sales fueled speculation that the Carnival Corp. may possibly re-brand the Costa name.